The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-13
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
The Senate Postpones Final Decision on
the Interstate Commerce Bill.
Ehe House Passes Edmunds's Anti-Polygamy
Bill, After Incorporating the Substitute
Offered by Representative Tucker.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 12-Mr. Hoar, from the
committee on claims, reported the Senate bill to
lxtend the time for filing claims in the Court OF
claims under the French spoliation act for
Twelve months additional, and on his motion the
bill was considered and passed.
Mr.. Malone, from the committee on public
buildings, reported bills for public buildings at
Jefferson, Tex, and Hastings. Neb. Placed on
ihe calendar.
Mr. Henderson introduced bill to facilitate
promotions and to retire from active service, on
their own application. officers of the army who
served during the war of the Rebellion three
years as officers or enlisted men in the volunteer
Dr. regular army. Referred.
Mr.. Dolpn, from the committee on coast de-
fensss, reported las an amendment to be offered
to the bill to encourage the manufacture Of steel
for orinance) an item appropriating $5O0c00O
for the construction of Notifications and other
works on defense. Ordered printed.
On motion of Mr.. Platt the Senate bill autho-
FIXING q settlement of the claim of Hiram Ber-
dan, assignee of the Berdan Firearms Com
pany, for use by the government of the Berdan
Improvement in firearms. was taken up, and,
after some discussion, passed
On motion Of Mr. ingalls, the Senate bill to
amend Section 3749 of the Revised Statutes, in
regard to renting selling government prop
erty, was taken up and passed
The Senate then, at LIS. resumed considera-
tion of the interstate commerce BILL and was
addressed by Mr.. CALL who declared his concur
renee in the great objects of public policy that
were thought TO be carried into effect by the
original bill and by the conference report.
NJ Il T..1
1om would not insist on a vote to day. The de-
bate has developed, in the press and other
organs of public opinion, feeling of intense
Interest, and much had been expressed which he
regarded as profitable to those who were
gagged in the consideration of the subject
Mr.. Call referred to the fact, stated In the
work of Mr. Poor, that capitalization of the rail
roads OF the country exceeded their actual cost
by three thousand millions. and complained that
the rates charged for transportation were to pay
Interest and dividends on this fictitious and pre-
tended capital. The people were paying an
annual tax of $500 000 600 on this fictitious cap
ttal He could see nothing in that. if it were
permitted to continue, but the ruin of the Re-
public. No regulation Of interstate commerce
could be made that permitted this enormous an
nual tax Did tho conference report propose to
remedy this svil9 1t did not. On the contrary,
1t implicitly licensed it in failing to provide any
remedy for it. The reasonable rates" sought to
be established by the bill should be reasonable
rates" calculated on the amount actually invest
Cd In the construction ana occupation OF the
railroads Ii that could not be done, then the
bill was futile he was in favor of going step
further than the bill went He was in favor of a
law declaring that rate only reasonable rate
which permitted a fair return on the capital
tualy invested in railroads. He would. how
ever, vote for the pending bill. because it would
accomplish great harm. But be regarded it
no remedy for the existing evils, and as no
triumph for those who desired to see interstate
commerce regulated. Although he would vote
for the bill. he would prefer to have it further
considered by the conference committee.
Mr. Brown made an argument In opposition
to the bill The two most Objectionable features
of the bill were those as to the long and short
hauls, and as to pooling. In regard to the first,
the friends Of the measure differed among them
selves as to its true meaning while its oppo
nents were at a loss to give it a correct inter
probation. The section was uncertain, indef-
mite and doubtful in Its meaning. He did not
propose to attempt to interpret it. No living
man knew what it's authoritative in ter probation
would be- AS to its practical result, howev err
he had no donbt. From the very necessity oi
the case the railroads would be compelled to re-
tain their present rates the long haul and
this would very seriously cripple the interchange
of commodities between the different sections
Of the country. He had no desire TO
predict evil; but he could not be mis-
taken In stating that the BILL when
put into operation, would derange both
the internal and the foreign commerce of the
country. As to pooling, he said that practical
experience had demonstrated the fact that un-
bridled competition always resulted in ruin to
the railroad companies. and to the absolute loss
OF the money invested in their stock, while il
produced good to the public What the mer
camille community wanted was reasonable tran
sportation, rates that uniform, equal
and just. Pooling had been found to be the best
means Of establishing reasonable rates and
making them steady and uniform. 1t prevented
consolidation and monopoly, while un bridled com
petition produced both. He instaDced the case oil
the six railroad companies which now covered the
territory between the Potomac and the Misss-
sppi, the Ohio and the gulf. The prohibition oil
their pooling arrangements would end in their
unbridled competition and their eventual bank
ruptcy and one man in New York could afforC
to pay $50 600 900 for the controlling interest il
these railroads and then carry them on grea
combination monopoly. The same thing wonli
apply to other sections of the country. This
would be the practical working of the system
The bill, if rieidly enforced would do more thar
any other law ever passed by Congress for tn,
destruction of railroad property. and for tn,
impoverishment Of the thousands of widows
and orphans whose worldly all was invested il
railroads
Mr. Mitchell, of Oregon, very seriously doubt
ed, and had always doubted, whether the shor
and long haul provision would cheaper loca
freights; while. on the other hand, vital blow
would be struck by IL at the trans-continenta
and through commerce, and also at the foreign
commerce Of the country. As rule the erea
bulk OF profits realized by railroad companies
came. not from the through business but from
the local business, and it was fair to assume tina
these compares would always look primarily Il
their own interests and not TO the interests O
the general public. All would agree. therefore
That there would be no hesitation on the part O
transportation companies in abandoning thei
through freight business rather than give n,
their profits on the local business For one h
did got prefer that result He believed, how
ever. that III such an event there would be sue
secret combinations between the powerful trans
continental companies, including water lines, a
would increase the through fregh
and thus enable them to main
tain their present eyorbtant charges on tn
short hauls. He. therefore, believed that tn
provision would prove to he a cheat, deceptio
and fraud. Mr.. Mitchell laid great stress o
the fact that the conditions and circum stance
Of the through trauscontnenta business wer
entirely 6issiniar to those Of the local bus
ness, and therefore tine fourth section would nc